Dressed in a light grey suit, which, however, preserved in the black band on its left sleeve some sign of his being in mourning, he drove off shortly after five o'clock. It had been his intention to let the carriage drop him near the range; but soon after he had left the villa district and long before he reached his destination, he was agreeably surprised to see Sabine and her brother coming to meet him on the narrow meadow-path that wound along beside the highway on which he was slowly driving up the valley. He jumped out of the carriage and shook hands first with Sabine and then with the boy.
"We have to beg you to forgive us," Sabine began somewhat agitatedly. "You see, we didn't succeed in keeping father at home, and I'm afraid he will hardly be back until late in the evening. Please don't be angry with me, Doctor."
The doctor would have liked to appear annoyed, and even tried; but he did not succeed and so said lightly, "Oh, that's all right." He glanced at his watch with a frown, as though it were now necessary to arrange the rest of his day anew. Then he looked up and had to smile at Sabine and her brother, who stood at the edge of the road much like two school children waiting to be punished. Sabine wore a white dress; a broad-brimmed straw hat hung down from her left arm on a loose yellow ribbon, and she looked much younger than the other time.
"And on such a hot afternoon," said the doctor almost reproachfully, "you came all this way on foot to meet me! That was really not at all necessary."
"First of all, Doctor," she rejoined, in some confusion, "in order to avoid any misunderstanding, I want to state expressly that this unsuccessful visit must, of course, be considered as professional—"
The doctor hastily interrupted her. "Now, please, Fräulein. Even if our plot had succeeded to-day, there could not possibly be any question of a professional visit. What is more, I beg you to consider me, for the present, as an accomplice in your designs."
"If you take the matter in that way, Doctor," Sabine responded, "you make it simply impossible for me—"
Doctor Graesler interrupted again. "It had been my intention to take a drive to-day, anyhow. And perhaps, as things have turned out this way, you will allow me to place the carriage at your disposal for the ride home, won't you? And if you are willing to take me along, I might perhaps take this opportunity of inquiring after
